Genealogy

The family history related data that can be found on the Canadian Jewish Heritage Network is primarily drawn from archival documents. It complements the type of information found on traditional genealogy websites. With the exception of the JIAS records, all the information available about the named individuals in this database is visible directly in the record seen online. To access this information, click on a highlighted name, or use the Expand All button at the top of the search results pages.

Important Tips

As information about individuals and families can also be found among the archival records described on this site, you can start your research with a broad keyword search. However, to focus on our Family History listings, we suggest that you follow these guidelines:

• To limit your search to only the selection of record sources listed below, check the Genealogy Records box under the heading Record Group at the bottom left of the Advanced Search screen. You can also make this choice using the Archival / Genealogical facet in the search results.
• If you are interested in only one of the sources below, you can indicate your choice using the Collections tab under Narrow By on the Search Results pages.
• To get an idea of all the Names, Places, and other options available in this database, use the Browse tabs at the top of the Advanced Search screen.
• For more information on how to refine and improve your family history research, please consult our Search Help page.

Data Sources

The CJHN Family History offerings currently include information extracted from

Jewish Colonization Association individual farm settler reports from Western Canada and Quebec (1906-1951)

All of these records include a scanned form describing each individual farming family at various points in time.

Yiddish obituaries from the Keneder Adler (1908-1935)

The entire text of the obituaries from this Montreal-based daily newspaper have been translated and indexed here.

Hebrew Sick Benefit Association of Montreal membership listings from 1897-1945

These records contain complete transcriptions from the membership books, translated from Yiddish.

Canadian Jewish Casualties in the Canadian Armed Forces

These listings include servicemen who died while serving in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. In addition to the date of death and place of burial, these records often include additional details such as war stories and photographs.

Saint John, New Brunswick Jewish Residents, Businesses, Burials & Obituaries

Compiled by the Saint John Jewish Historical Museum, this rich resource draws on over 180 years of listings, including burials information dating back to 1873, hundreds of full text obituaries, detailed photographs of tombstones, and business and residential directory details about all the known Jewish residents of this Eastern Canadian city from 1863-1999.

JIAS (Jewish Immigrant Aid Services) client name lists from 1922-1952

The JIAS listings are the only records in this database which do not present all the available data online. For privacy protection reasons, access to this information is restricted to the persons named in the file or, if deceased, their direct descendants. The archival records associated with these listings can contain a single index card to more than a dozen pages. Fees for copying and delivery apply; payment can be made to the Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives via Paypal or Canadian funds cheque.

Our Sponsors

This genealogical records database was made possible thanks to the generous support of Penny Rubinoff.

The Yiddish-English translation of the HSBA membership records was funded by the Jewish Genealogical Society of Montreal.

The translation of the Keneder Adler Obituary data was funded jointly by the Jewish Genealogical Societies of Ottawa and Montreal.

The addition of the Saint John New Brunswick information was made possible by funding from the Alexander Dworkin Foundation for Jewish Archives.